Hanging Rock State Park (12-9-14)

Hanging Rock State Park, located 30 miles north of Winston-Salem has been on my radar for quite some time now. This 7,000 acre park protects one of the more well-known landmarks in the state, Hanging Rock, and from what I had heard and read it boasted some of the most scenic hiking the Piedmont has to offer.

Purchased by the State of North Carolina in 1935 (partially to protect it from developers) Hanging Rock State Park protects the high peaks located at the eastern end of the ancient Sauratown Mountain Range which predate the nearby, but geologically separate, Appalachian Range. Rising dramatically up to 1,700' above the surrounding Piedmont, the Sauratowns (which by the way are named for the Saura Tribe which once lived here) are comprised primarily of a very erosion-resistant type of quartzite which is why they are so rugged and steep compared with the gentle countryside which surrounds them. Shortly after the State acquired the property the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set about constructing many of the man-made amenities within the park still enjoyed today such as the stone dam and lake, the huge bathhouse, as well-as a number of picnic areas and trails.

As with many of my State Park visits I had a one-day shot to see as much as possible. Luckily, the orientation of the mountain range within the park lends itself to a very convenient 11-mile loop (with spurs) which would allow me to hit every high point and major overlook in the park. I'd begin my day by ascending the highest peak in the Sauratown's...Moore's Knob at 2,579'. From there I'd cross the interior of the park to the four mile ridgeline which contains the parks other four named overlooks...Cook's Wall, House Rock, Wolf Rock, and the parks namesake Hanging Rock. As you'll see if you come along with me through this album, Hanging Rock State Park deserves every bit of praise it receives...

From the back deck of the visitor center was a really nice view of Moore's Knob (2,579') which would be the first summit I'd be headed for this day...

Visitor Center (~1,700')

With the zoom on my camera maxed out I could clearly see the stone observation deck atop Moore's Knob...

Hanging Rock View (~1,700')

In front of my parking spot at the trailhead was an observation platform with this nice look up at Hanging Rock itself, where later on in the day I'd be finishing up...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The toughest portion of this hike to navigate was the first half mile or so. Therefore, the next series of photos are meant to get you on the right track if you're going to attempt this hike. Starting out, I would be following the MST out along the entrance to the parking lot...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,700'

Just after leaving the parking lot these two trail pointed me left along and towards, as they say, the MST and the lake...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

A few hundred feet past the signs in the previous shot the trail dumps you out on the park road near Hanging Rock Lake, pictured here. The trail continues down the bank directly across the road...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

Peering through the trees at the glassy surface of Hanging Rock Lake...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

The trail soon made a hard right at a tall wooden gate which blocks access to the dam, completed in 1938 by the CCC, which created Hanging Rock Lake...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

Another confusing part of the trail. Just after passing the dam the trail heads back to the road at this stone bridge. The signage is just plain inadequate so what you do is cross the bridge on the near side and continue up the road a few hundred feet to where you'll see the trail once again dive left into the woods...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

Once again along the lake I could see back to the dam which the trail so confusingly bypassed...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,690'

As I walked along the shore I had plenty of opportunity to look across the lake and admire the old stone bathhouse, also built by the CCC in the '30's...

Mountains-to-Sea Trail - 1,695'

I was enjoying this nice lakeside walk, it was a great way ease into the work that was ahead...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,700'

Yet another confusing intersection. The trail I had been following breaks in from the right. Turning left (behind me in this shot) heads to the other side of the lake and the bathhouse. Turning right (ahead here) I'd have a choice to make which you'll see in the next shot...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,710'

There's directions on this sign but no trail names. Taking a look at my map once again it became clear that the trail to the left was the Tory's Den Trail while the one to the right was the one that I wanted, heading to the campground and then on toward Moore's Knob...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,750'

The first real climb of the hike was the brief ascent from the lake to the campground...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,830'

After a few minutes walk from the last intersection the trail pretty much dumped me out right in the middle of a campsite...once again with no indication what direction to head. At the road I'd have to take a right...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,830'

Walking the camp road for a short distance I passed the kiosk at the campground entrance...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,830'

A short distance past the kiosk a nondescript arrow points into the trees where the trail continues. Thus ended the most confusing part of the hike...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,800'

With Moore's Knob rising ahead of me through the trees I could now focus more on the trail and my wonderful surroundings rather than having my nose stuck in the map...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,770'

A short ways in from the campground the trail rock-hops this small stream and crossed a rather slippery rock outcrop...

Moore's Wall Trail - 1,820'

Ugh...stairs...no doubt an attempt to prevent erosion on a well-used path I still loathe them. To me it's much harder to ascend large, unevenly spaced steps than just walk the natural incline of the hill...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,000'

My trail notes said that a good 75% of the climb from the campground was via steps...that may be a conservative estimate...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,200'

About 3/4-mile walk from the campground a trailside bench marks a side-path to the first overlook of the climb...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,200'

Morning mist clings to the eastern slopes of Hanging Rock from the overlook a quarter-mile below the summit of Moore's Knob. This was a wonderful place to take a break from the unending stairs...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,200'

The panorama from the overlook on the way up Moore's Knob. The hill to the right is Hanging Rock itself, rising to 2,160', which would be the grand finale of today's hike...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,250'

After catching my breath at the overlook I turned my attention to the last quarter mile of stairs to the summit...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,450'

Arriving at the summit spur atop Moore's Knob...

Balanced Rock Spur - 2,480'

Before heading to the summit itself I took a quick jaunt over to neighboring Balanced Rock...

Balanced Rock Spur - 2,500'

The spur to Balanced Rock is only a couple hundred feet long...in less than a minute the rock shows itself through the rhododendron...

Balanced Rock Spur - 2,500'

Balanced Rock is well-named. This HUGE chunk of quartzite sits on a base that is no more than a meter square!!!

Moore's Knob Summit Spur - 2,560'

Finishing up at Balanced Rock, it was now time for the summit...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

Stepping out onto the summit of Moore's Knob...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

Like other Piedmont mountains, Moore's Knob commands an incredible view due to the flatness of the countryside surrounding it. Here, the North Carolina Piedmont stretches away north to Virginia while to the left another of North Carolina's more famous monadnock's, Pilot Mountain (2,420') pierces the horizon...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

The cliffs on the north side of Moore's Knob are incredibly rugged and shear. The farms you see below here, only a couple miles away, lie some 1,500' or more beneath me...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

The quite aged benchmark atop Moore's Knob...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

If, like me, you notice a distinct similarity between the tower atop Moore's Knob and the one that previously stood atop Mount Mitchell...you're right. Both towers were built at about the same time by the CCC...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

The stunning 360-degree view from atop Moore's Knob. The video starts looking east towards Hanging rock then pans north and west past Pilot Mountain, then south past Cook's Wall which I'd be headed to next, before returning to Hanging Rock...

The wind was quite strong so You may want to turn your volume down!

Moore's Knob (2,579')

Looking west along the ridge known as Moore's Wall towards the pointed peak of Pilot Mountain (2,420') on the horizon...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

The panorama to the north and east from atop the summit tower with Hanging Rock (2,160') on the right...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

The climb I had just made was easily seen from atop the tower. The visitor center, where I started the day, sits in the trees below and to the right of Hanging Rock while the lake where the real climb started is barely visible on the right edge of the frame...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

Looking into the sun to the south the next portion of my route was visible. I'd next be following the ridge in the foreground, known as Moore's Wall, before climbing to Cook's Wall (2,360') which is the high ridge beyond...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

One more look west towards Pilot Mountain (2,420')...

Moore's Knob (2,579')

Alas, it was time to keep moving...so with one more glance towards my ultimate destination I descended back into the trees...

Moore's Wall Trail - 2,450'

After the unending series of stairs which comprised the first section of the Moore's Knob Trail it was nice to be on a less-traveled and relatively flat stretch as I left the summit headed west...